ES2991532T3 - Collapsible container - Google Patents

Abstract

Container (1), preferably made of plastic, with a rectangular frame (2) forming the upper edge of the container (1); and side walls (4) that are connected to the frame (2), preferably in a hinged and foldable manner. The container (1) has a base (6) that is not connected to the frame (2) or the side walls (4) and that is housed within the container (1) in such a way that it can move freely in a vertical direction, where the geometries of the side walls (4) and/or the base (6) interact in such a way as to limit the vertical degree of freedom of the base (6) in a direction away from the frame (2). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Collapsible container

The present disclosure relates to a container, preferably an open plastic container, according to the general term of claim 1. Such a container is known, for example, from FR 2706732 A1. The use of open containers for the transport and presentation of goods is known. There is always a conflict of objectives between stable containers with fixed side walls, which protect the goods during transport and in which the goods remain fixed in their position even under load or the effect of force, for example during transport or handling, and containers in which the goods in the container can be well presented or displayed. Fixed or high side walls of particularly stable containers conceal the goods in the container. However, automated handling of containers, for example with conveyor belts, requires a high degree of stability of the containers or the side walls of the containers. For logistics with empty containers, it is also advantageous if the containers are foldable in order to reduce transport and storage costs.

Containers are known to have a stable upper frame in which the side walls are folded so that the base of the container rests against the frame in the folded state. The side walls are hinged to both the upper frame and the lower base. The side walls also have a horizontal folding hinge in the middle. This allows the side walls to be folded inwards. Once folded, the base lies flat against the side walls and the frame. These containers can be easily folded by applying force from the side, i.e. force applied vertically on the side walls. This is particularly disadvantageous on a conveyor belt when containers lying next to each other collide, causing the side walls of the containers to collapse unintentionally. In general, these containers tend to collapse unintentionally when a lateral force is applied. Furthermore, it is not possible to collapse the containers when there are goods inside.

It is also known to make containers in which the side walls are connected in such a way that the side walls can be folded or collapsed together. GB 2570617 A describes such a container with collapsible side walls. The short side walls of the container can be folded vertically in their centre or folded inwards. The short side walls are attached to the long side walls in such a way that the short side walls pull the long side walls towards the centre when they are folded inwards, thus folding them. Once folded inwards, the short side walls lie flat against the base of the container. The long side walls also lie flat against the short side walls. This means that all the side walls can be folded down by pressing at a single point on the short side walls. This enables an operator to fold the side walls with one hand while holding the container with the other. However, the container of GB 2 570 617 A cannot be folded when goods are stored inside it.

Conventional collapsible containers are therefore less stable during transport and handling. The collapsible side walls tend to collapse when simply touched from the side.

Summary of the disclosure

Therefore, the present disclosure aims to overcome or at least minimize the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide a hinged open container that is highly stable and suitable for presenting goods within the container.

This task is solved by a container having the characteristics of claim 1.

The present disclosure relates to a container, preferably an open plastic container. The container has a rectangular frame forming an upper edge of the container. The container further has side walls that are hinged to the frame, preferably hinged inwardly. The container apparently has a base that is not connected to the frame or the side walls and is vertically movable within the container. The geometries of the side walls and/or the base interact in such a way as to limit the vertical degree of freedom of the base in a direction away from the frame. The side walls are hinged to the frame. Furthermore, the side walls can be folded inwardly when the movable base rests on the frame.

In other words, the vertically free movable base is accommodated by the geometry of the side walls, which prevents vertical movement of the base beyond the vertical extension of the side walls in a direction opposite to the frame. Thus, the base can move vertically within the vessel. However, the base can only move as far as the side walls extend from the frame. In other words, the base cannot move (down) beyond the side walls. This prevents the base from rolling off the side walls or the entire vessel. In other words, the base cannot move beyond the side walls in the direction of gravity.

The base is freely movable vertically between a lower position, where the base's vertical degree of freedom is limited and the base moves the side walls hinged inwardly apart, and an upper position, where the base bears against the frame and releases the side walls hinged inwardly. In the upper position, the frame may limit the base's vertical degree of freedom.

This means that the base can be moved between the upper and lower positions. In the upper position, the base serves as a tray for presenting the goods. In the upper position, the side walls can be folded inwards. In the lower position, the container can be prepared to contain the goods. In the lower position, the base can prevent the side walls from folding inwards. In other words, the base in the lower position can separate the side walls and thus prevent them from folding unintentionally. This ensures high stability of the container during transport. It can also prevent the side walls from collapsing when a lateral force is applied to the side walls.

The mobile base offers the following advantages when vertical. When goods are stored in the container, the base on which the goods are placed can be raised relative to the side walls to expose the goods so that they are no longer covered by the side walls. The base acts as a tray on which the goods are placed. The goods are thus clearly visible and not covered by the side walls. At the same time, the side walls protect the goods during transport. The fixed frame gives the container a high degree of stability.

Further advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure are the subject of the appended subclaims. Preferably, the geometries, preferably at the lower edge or at the free ends, of two or more side walls have side wall sections protruding inwards. The side wall geometries, which prevent the base from slipping out of the container, may be individual lugs protruding inwards from the side wall or also a circumferential rim protruding from the side wall. The side wall section defines the distance that the base can move away from the frame under gravity. It should be noted that the side wall part need not be located at the bottom of the side walls, but may be located at any height of the side walls.

According to an optional aspect of the disclosure, the geometries of the side walls and the base fit together and thus allow vertical guidance of the base. The side walls may have vertical guide rails along which the interlocking elements of the base run. The interaction between the interlocking elements and the guide rails allows the base to move vertically. However, the base cannot twist or jam. The guide rails may have one or more stops that limit the vertical movement of the base.

The locking elements are preferably guided in the guide rails using a dovetail joint. This creates a positive fit between the locking elements and the guide rail, resulting in secure guidance of the base on the side walls.

According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, the side walls are folded inwards such that the base is sandwiched between the frame and the inwardly folded side walls. In other words, the base is enclosed by the frame and the side walls in the folded state. As a result, the side walls rest against the underside of the floor. This means that the base on which the goods rest is shifted upwards in the direction of the frame. As a result, the side walls are folded under the base. In this way, the container with the side walls can be converted into a tray or a tray for presenting goods without having to move the goods from the base. In contrast, in known containers, the side walls are folded on top of the base on which the goods are located, so that the latter must be removed before folding or folding.

In this context, the bottom side of the base refers to the side of a base plate that rests on the ground when the container is upright. The top side of the base is the side of the base plate on which the goods rest.

According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, the container has short and long side walls opposite each other. The short side walls, in particular, are hinged to the frame in such a way that the side walls can be folded inwards and the frame, in particular a stop or projection formed on the respective side of the frame, limits the degree of freedom of rotation of the two side walls outwards, preferably at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the frame. Thus, the (short) side walls can be prevented from folding outwards by a projection on the frame. This prevents the short side walls from folding outwards.

According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, the two opposite side walls, in particular the short ones, each have inwardly pointing L-shaped sections at their two lateral edges, which limits the degree of freedom of the neighbouring side walls, in particular the long ones, to pivot outward, preferably at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the frame.

In other words, the short side walls can be L-shaped in at least one section. The L-shaped side wall sections enclose the neighbouring side walls, in particular the long ones, in such a way that the long side walls cannot fold outwards. This prevents the long side walls from folding outwards. Together with the prevention of inward folding by the base, all side walls thus have a high degree of stability against unintentional folding inwards or outwards.

According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, the long side walls form a long side of the container and the short side walls form a shorter front or rear side. The frame has the stop or overhang in the front and rear area, so it is thicker in this area than in the long side walls. This allows the short side walls to be folded over the long side walls. This means that the long side walls are first folded inwards and lie flat or flush with the base. Once folded, the short side walls lie flat or flush with the long side walls.

Preferably, the base automatically moves towards the frame when the container is turned over. This allows the side walls to fold inwards over the base and into each other by themselves. In other words, the base moves to the position where the side walls can be folded in when the container is turned over. If the container is turned over so that it rests on the frame, the base moves towards the frame due to the effect of gravity. The base then rests against the frame. As a result, the base no longer prevents the side walls from folding inwards and the side walls collapse onto the base. The container can now be easily folded.

When the vessel is turned upside down, it is advantageous to prevent the base from moving out of the frame. It may therefore be advantageous if the base can be displaced vertically only between the frame and the inwardly protruding sections of the side walls. The frame may therefore have elements which protrude inwards, preferably in the plane of the floor, and which prevent the floor from moving beyond the frame.

The adjacent side walls are preferably connected to one another by means of interlocking elements when they are unfolded. When the container is unfolded, the respective side walls can be connected to one another in such a way that the side walls do not fold inwards. In this way, in addition to the base, the side walls are secured against folding inwards.

According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, each of the short side walls is foldable at a central section and is connected to the long side walls such that the long side walls fold inward as the central section is folded. Each of the short side walls may have a vertical folding axis. When the folding axis is touched, part of the short side walls fold inward. The short side walls may be attached to the long side walls. Thus, when the foldable sections of the short side walls are folded inward, the long side walls fold inward with the short side walls. The foldable sections of the short side walls are preferably triangular.

Two opposite, in particular short, first side walls each have a trapezoidal side wall section, which is hingedly connected to the frame; a first triangular side wall section, which is hingedly connected to a first section of the trapezoidal side wall section and to a side edge of a neighboring, in particular long, first side wall; and a second triangular side wall section, which is hingedly connected to a second section of the trapezoidal side wall section and to a side edge of a neighboring, in particular long, second side wall. A folding movement of the trapezoidal and triangular side wall sections allows the interconnected first and second side walls to be folded inwardly over one another.

Preferably, the trapezoidal side wall section is first folded inwards. The triangular side walls hinged to the trapezoidal side wall 22 are drawn inwards by the movement of the trapezoidal side wall and folded over it. The triangular side walls are connected to the long side walls. Due to the inward movement of the triangular side wall sections, the long side wall sections are also folded inwards and finally lie over the short side wall sections. When folding the long side walls inwards, the side wall sections of the opposite short side wall can also be folded over each other. In this way, the side walls can be folded at a single point with one hand or one touch. This makes it especially easy to fold the side walls when the user holds the container in his hand. The user can hold the container in one hand and fold all the side walls with the other hand with one touch.

According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, the container can be used as a transport container in the deployed state of the side walls with the base in the lower position and as a tray in the folded state of the side walls with the base in the upper position. The container can be moved from the deployed to the folded state and vice versa by vertically raising or lowering the base, in particular by means of an automation system, without having to remove the goods placed on the base.

The base may be prepared and designed to be pushed vertically upward by an automated system. The user may place the container on the system. The automated system may have an active element that moves upward and pushes the base. However, the system may also have protruding elements or cylinders that protrude from a storage surface. When the container is placed on the protruding elements, the base moves relative to the side walls. The user does not have to move the base himself while holding the container in his hand.

Preferably, the system has slightly funnel-shaped side walls. The container is placed on the protruding elements and the base is pushed upwards. The slightly raised side walls push the side walls inwards and fold them under the base almost automatically. This means that the user does not have to manually fold the side walls while holding the (filled) container in his hand.

According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, its own thickness or the thickness of the plate prevents the base from rotating around an axis within the side walls and thus from getting stuck with the side walls. According to another optional aspect of the disclosure, the base can be latched in the lower position. In this way, the base can be temporarily fixed and thus no longer freely movable. However, as soon as the latch is released, the base is again free to move vertically. This prevents the container from unintentionally collapsing.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1 shows an isometric representation of a container according to the disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the container according to the disclosure;

Fig. 3 shows a front view of the container according to the disclosure;

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the container according to the disclosure;

Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of the inverted vessel according to the disclosure;

Fig. 6 shows the inverted container according to the disclosure with the long side walls folded;

Fig. 7 shows the inverted container according to the disclosure with the side walls folded inwards; Fig. 8 shows several open containers stacked on top of each other according to the disclosure;

Fig. 9 shows several folded containers stacked on top of each other;

Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal section through the open container according to the disclosure;

Fig. 11 shows a longitudinal section through the inverted container according to the disclosure;

Fig. 12 shows a longitudinal section through the inverted container according to the disclosure with the long side walls folded;

Fig. 13 shows a longitudinal section through the inverted container according to the disclosure with the side walls folded inwards;

Fig. 14 shows an isometric view of the container according to the disclosure with a base in an upper position; and Fig. 15 shows an isometric view of a modified embodiment of the container according to the disclosure with a pair of collapsible and folding side walls.

Detailed description of the Figures

Fig. 1 shows an open container 1 according to the disclosure. The container 1 has an upper fixed frame 2 with a closed profile. The frame 2 is preferably rectangular. The container further has four side walls 4. The side walls 4 are attached to the frame 2 by hinges. The container also has a base 6, which is not attached to the frame 2 or the side walls 4 and which is freely movable vertically along the side walls 4. The container 1 has two long side walls 8, opposite each other, and two short side walls 10, also opposite each other. The short side walls 10 surround the long side walls 8 in an L-shape and prevent the long side walls 8 from folding outwards. A projection 12 of the frame 2 prevents the short side walls 10 from folding outwards. In the area of the short side walls 10, the frame 2 is therefore thicker or protrudes into the short side walls 10. The side walls 4 have a series of vertically extending reinforcing ribs 14. The container has a handle 16 or a recess in each of the short side walls 10 so that a user can reach the handles 16 and lift the container. When the container 1 is in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 1, and the base 6 is in a lower position, the base 6 prevents the side walls 4 from folding inwards. This means that the side walls 4 are stable in the lower position and cannot fold inwards or outwards.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the long side walls 8 of the container 1. The long side walls 8 are shown to have reinforcing ribs 14 or struts. The frame 2 is shown to have the projection 12 in the area of the short side walls 10, which prevents the short side walls 10 from folding outwards. The long side walls 8 are surrounded by the short side walls 10. This prevents the long side walls 8 from folding outwards. Fig. 3 shows a side view of the short side walls 10. The short side walls 10 are also provided with reinforcing ribs or struts 14. Fig. 4 shows a top view of the container 1. Both the container 1 and the frame 2 are rectangular in shape. The base 6 is also rectangular.

Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of the inverted container 1. The base 6 is freely movable along a vertical extension of the side walls 4. When the container 1 is inverted, the base 6 is displaced downwards by the effect of gravity. In other words, the base 6 rests on the frame 2. The side walls 4 protrude vertically from the base 6 and the frame 4. In this position, the base no longer prevents the side walls 4 from folding inwards. Fig. 6 shows that the long side walls 8 are folded inwards of the base 6. Only the short side walls 10 remain in an upright position. The long side walls 8 lie flat or lying against the base 6. Fig. 7 shows that the short side walls 10 are also folded towards the base 6 and lie flat against the long side walls 8. The frame 2 has the projection 12 in the area of the short side walls 10, which allows the short side walls 10 to be folded over the long side walls 8. It should be noted that the side walls 4 rest on the underside of the base 6. The underside of the base 6 is the side of a base plate or the base 6 which rests on the base when the container 1 is full. The goods rest on the upper face of the base 6.

Fig. 8 shows several open containers 1 stacked on top of each other. The containers 1 may have geometries at the lower ends of the side walls, with which the upper containers 1 fit into the lower containers 1. This allows the containers 1 to be stacked on top of each other securely.

Fig. 9 shows several containers 1 folded and stacked on top of each other. Since the side walls 4 are so flat on top of each other, the folded containers 1 are also flat. It is obvious that the folded containers 1 take up less space than the open containers 1.

Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal section through the open container 1 of Fig. 1. It can be seen that the base 6 can move freely between the frame 2 and the lower side wall sections 18. The side wall sections 18 protrude inwards from the side walls 4 and limit the base 6 in the vertical degree of freedom in the direction away from the frame 2. The frame 2 can protrude inwards from the base plane of the container such that the base 6 cannot slide beyond the frame 2. Likewise, the side wall sections 18 protrude inwards so that the base is enclosed between the frame 2 and the side wall sections 18. The longitudinal section shows that the projection 12 of the frame 2 is thicker in the area of the short side walls 10 than in the area of the long side walls 8. The frame 2 can be designed as a hollow profile. This reduces the weight of the frame 2. The base 6 can be designed as a double plate with a hollow space between the plates. This strengthens the base plate.

The side wall sections may be individual closing lugs (not shown) or a circumferential closing lip 18 or a circumferential rim. The inwardly protruding side wall sections 18 are therefore an example of the sophisticated geometries of the side walls 4. It is shown that the base 6 is the actual base of the container 1 and not simply an additional plate which can move vertically while another base remains stationary.

Fig. 11 shows a longitudinal section through the inverted container 1 of Fig. 5. The base 6 is surrounded by the frame 2. The frame 2 projects inwards such that the base 6 is enclosed by the frame 2. For this purpose, the frame 2 can have an inwardly projecting frame section 20 which limits the base 6 in a vertical degree of freedom in the direction of the frame 2. The side walls 4 are no longer supported by the base 6. They are therefore hinged. Fig. 12 shows a longitudinal section through the inverted container 1 of Fig. 6, in which the long side walls 8 are folded inwards. The long side walls 8 lie flat against the base 6, or more exactly against the bottom of the base 6. It is also shown that the frame 2 is thicker in the area of the short side walls 10 than in the area of the long side walls 8. In other words, the frame 2 has the protrusion 12 in the region of the short side walls 10, by means of which a suspension or hinge of the short side walls 10 is vertically higher than a suspension of the long side walls 8. In this way, the short side walls 10 can be folded over the long side walls 8 and lie flush or flat against the long side walls 8. This is shown in Fig. 13, which shows a longitudinal section through the folded container 1 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 shows the container 1 with the base 6 in the upper position, i.e. Fig. 14 does not show the bottom of an inverted and upside-down container 1, but the container in its normal orientation, only with the base 6 raised upwards. In this case, the base 6 bears against the frame 2, i.e. the base 6 can move freely within the container 1, but is trapped between the upper and lower ends of the container or between the frame 2 and the boundary geometries 18 of the side walls 8, 10. The base 6 may be inserted before the side walls 8, 10 are mounted on the frame 6 or the dimensions of the container 1 may be such that the base 6 can be inserted in an inclined orientation (rotated and tilted) through the frame 2 into the open container 1. In the upper position, the goods placed on the base 6 are not enclosed by the side walls. This means that the goods are not covered by the side walls and that the upper position of the base 6 is suitable for displaying the goods. The user can manually push the base 6 into the upper position. The base 6 can also be pushed into the upper position by an automated system (not shown). In the position shown in Fig. 14, the side walls 8 and 10 can be folded inwards and the container 1 can be converted into a tray without having to remove a product (not shown) from the base 6 that is on the base 6 and replace it on the base 6.

Fig. 15 shows a modified embodiment of the container 1. The short side walls 10 each have a trapezoidal side wall section 22, a first and a second triangular side wall section 24. The trapezoidal side wall 22 is hingedly connected to the frame 2. The first triangular side wall section 24 is hingedly connected to a first section of the trapezoidal side wall section 22 and to a side edge of an adjacent, in particular long, first side wall 8. The second triangular side wall section 24, in contrast, is hinged to a second foot of the trapezoidal side wall section 22 and to a side edge of a neighboring, in particular long, second side wall 8. By a folding movement of the trapezoidal side wall section 22 and the triangular side wall sections 24, the interconnected first and second side walls 8, 10 can be folded inwardly onto one another.

The trapezoidal side wall section 22 is first folded inwards. The triangular side wall sections 24, which are hingedly connected to the trapezoidal side wall section 22, are pushed inwards as a result of the movement of the trapezoidal side wall section 22 and are folded over the trapezoidal side wall section 22. The triangular side walls 24 are connected to the long side walls 8. Due to the inwards movement of the triangular side wall sections 24, the long side wall sections are also folded inwards and eventually lie over the short side wall sections 22, 24.

Claims (12)

1. Container (1), preferably a plastic container, with: a frame (2), in particular rectangular, forming the upper edge of the container (1); side walls (4); and a base (6) which is not attached to the frame (2) or to the side walls (4) and which is received inside the container (1) so as to be able to move freely in a vertical direction, where the geometries of the side walls (4) and/or of the base (6) cooperate in such a way as to limit the degree of vertical freedom of the base (6) in the opposite direction to the frame (2), characterized because The side walls (4) are hinged to the frame and, when the mobile base (6) rests against the frame (2), they can be folded inwards. 2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the geometries, preferably at the lower edge or at the free ends, of two or more side walls (4) have side wall sections (18) protruding inwards, in particular individual lugs protruding inwards. 3. Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the geometries of the side walls (4) and the base (6) are in such a mutually form-fitting manner that they allow vertical guidance of the base (6), preferably the side walls (4) have vertical guide rails, in particular dovetail-shaped, in which guide or locking elements of the base (6) extend, in particular dovetail-shaped. 4. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base (6) is vertically freely movable between a lower position, in which the vertical degree of freedom of the base (6) is limited and the base (6) separates the inwardly hinged side walls (4), and the upper position, in which the vertical degree of freedom of the base (6) is limited by the frame (2) and releases the inwardly hinged side walls (4). 5. Container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the base (6), when in the upper position, is sandwiched between the frame and the inwardly hinged side walls (4). 6. Container (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the container can be used as a transport container in the unfolded state of the side walls (4) with the base (6) in the lower position and as a tray in the folded state of the side walls (4) with the base (6) in the upper position, whereby, by vertically raising or lowering the base (6), in particular by means of an automation system, the container can be brought from the unfolded state to the folded state, and vice versa, without having to remove the goods placed on the base (6). 7. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that two opposite, in particular short, side walls (10) are hinged to the frame in such a way that the side walls can be folded inwards and the frame, in particular a stop or projection (12) formed on the respective side of the frame, limits the degree of freedom of rotation outwards of the two side walls (10), preferably at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the frame. 8. Container (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the two opposite, in particular short, side walls (10) each have L-shaped sections directed inwards at their two lateral edges, which limit the degree of freedom of pivoting of the adjacent, in particular long, side walls (8) outwards, preferably at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the frame. 9. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that when the empty container (1) is tilted, the base (6) moves by itself in the direction of the frame (2), so that the side walls (4) can then fold inwards and on top of each other on the base (6), in particular by themselves. 10. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that adjacent side walls (4) are releasably connected to one another in the unfolded state, preferably by means of locking elements. 11. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that two opposite, in particular short, first side walls (10) can be folded into a central section and are connected to adjacent, in particular long, second side walls (8) such that the second side walls (8) can be folded inwards as soon as the central section of the first side walls (10) is folded. 12. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that two opposite, in particular short, first side walls (10) each have: a trapezoidal side wall section (22), which is hingedly attached to the frame (2); a first triangular side wall section (24), which is hingedly connected to a first portion of the trapezoidal side wall section (22) and to a side edge of a first, in particular long, neighbouring side wall (8); and a second triangular side wall section (24), which is hingedly connected to a second side of the trapezoidal side wall section (22) and to a side edge of an adjacent, in particular long, second side wall (8); wherein a folding motion of the trapezoidal and triangular sidewall sections (22, 24) allows the interconnected first and second sidewalls (8, 10) to fold inwardly over each other.