DE1782242A1 - Stackable container - Google Patents

Description

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TKI-EF (IX: HKXSHKHtJ ((I UU (Ml U 42 (IO

July 1968

ILLINOIS TOOL WOHKS, Inc, Chicago _B Illinois (V.St.A »)

»Stackable container"

The invention relates to a one-piece, stackable, thin-walled plastic container of essentially uniform thickness with double-walled staple folding arrangements » the stack with a peripherally extending stack = surface of the container ssu3H «amenwi? ken« around the interlocking = · capacity to be properly limited and thus -a distribution in ^ iiianAftiVjeijtijokfcwn Böhäii ^ xn to v «* r-

O'J884 / üO3O

prevent·

In particular, the invention relates to the stacking of a large number of identically designed containers, which are thin-walled Plastic intended for single use.

^ Sin stacking in thin-walled disposable containers where up to or more than 50 to 75 containers are stacked together is an imperative to the measure of the Nestability between stacked containers to limit. The lack of a stacking arrangement or the use of an improper stacking arrangement on such Containers leads to wedging between nested containers. B & s isn't just in case undesirable, in which the individual containers are dispensed from a stack in a vending machine, where

w can lead to malfunctions in the vending machine in the event of difficulties in separating the containers, but also for those cases in which a direct sale takes place, whereby it is important that the end user can separate the individual containers from the stack.

It is known that the stacking arrangements either on the side wall or on the bottom of its thin-walled plastic tray in a single design are prefixed. An example of a stacking arrangement on the side

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tenwand is known from US Patent 3,139,213 _t known where a stack ring t of a container is directed opposite to the divergence of the side wall, is provided to limit the degree of Ineinanderschiebbarkeit between nested containers. Variants of an inverted conical stacking ring in the side wall of a plastic container are known from US Pat. No. 3,091,360, where the stacking ring is interrupted, and from US Pat. No. 3,208,631, where a number of V-shaped stacking projections are provided may be arranged to cooperate with either the upper or lower belt of the container in a ramp arrangement. It is also known from US Pat. No. 3,223,305 that essentially horizontally directed stacking ribs or folds of double wall thickness can be used in a certain manner to limit the degree of nestability between nested containers.

If a stacking arrangement is to be used in the bottom of the container, nan can refer to the type of stacking such as is known from U.S. Patents 2,988,258 and 3,027,596. The ones in these Bottom stacking arrangements disclosed in patents are exemplary of two approaches to bottom stacking,

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from which then »developments proceed.

None of these stacking arrangements have any use essentially axially directed stacking folds of double wall thickness are provided in a thin-walled Kiraststoff container, which cooperate with a peripherally extending stack surface on the container body to the extent of the Can be nested between the containers free to limit "

The invention aims to provide a stacking arrangement in a thin-walled, stackable container body thermoplastic material, by means of which the degree of nestability is perfectly limited between the same container.

Furthermore, the invention aims to provide a thin-walled plastic container with a stack folding arrangement double wall thickness, which is constructed so that the stacks overlap between successive stacked containers is increased _t the same time the container in the region of the stack folding assembly is laterally reinforced or stiffened while.

Furthermore, the invention aims to create a stack »

109884/0030 _ ₅ ^

in a thin-walled, naht.loeen BehUVtsr tms thermoplastic material _P, the ± i "bfisti & Mt ö» Ausführuiigsbeispielst the Erfindu & g designed l ~ t _n ■ sia ^ titrate zwisaha "successive gestapai containers takes place. when 3i-a in .jstapeJnd *» Appendix anainan-> l «i. ^ä g-3long _r while in others. Äusführungsbeispiöli * «€»> γ invention for einäij f ^ äeralastiecihöii V / id «rsti * nd in aylnlßT Rlohtwag g ^ aorg- * v; ird«. to «in Vcrkailei. and «in» damage to the container «rs tape is closed

l ^ isu is örfindungsgeniän eir ^ einatüokigwr; liLiinnwa aabcloser container made of thermoplastic plastic in front of gv;>} AiUYIf Ils lan siKe i-it. ^ ;, ai.
dl -. · jiiit äinör itself. peri; phsr

/ 3 container Kusasiiiienv.firfct »v / obel dia i« ^: rariii.t.fat

ft- ^ to the greater T ^ iL «. -sine Ansah! sioh ίώ -7e3e; iiiiich ai, \

and in the more peripheral Abland öngwor ^ rif "

'.jici'uiVi, ■ άΐ-ί In the 3w

fö'-uit gind «where cii <;J!>V; e :. ilge Stftpeifai. t «radial uius Ie ,: 'j'aholder Iw ί.-ί. na iii ^ .hturig V'sro ^ tzt int ,, oul L-. ■: · f * .; r t: J π '/, {le & iamiitivirkxii iiil V ■. ; · «J. h perl ^ hJi / siO'-i '*? ? · Λ "^^ i-jm i ti; ■ - .; 'ΓiUchün eijiöf) ί_; ί'':.! .- ih" n to igür.c'iwn ^ öütajR ^»·.!..!. ^ Bo holds: «ra care lüt">,>, (; if in ii ^ ftpa.l / i. Zwl &': hat \ this ba hold /'" zn enabled. <. Jh *" n, woböi lie AnarU. iι. of; 5 '; αρ · J fu' χ

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can be provided in the side wall of the container in the side wall of the container. In at least one Ausilihrungabeispiäl the invention is eioh the Stapelfaltenanordnusig within AEEA Bshälterkörpere and is untar an angle r <^ alati to the container axis _t to eiise feöerelcs's intensity ^ av / is & hftr · aufeisianderfclgeadez} stacked "reservoirs in Stiipal au provide _o

Egg © invention is nash following with reference to some £ Au. ·-Föl - approximately examples below Besugnahme on dia Z besohrieben closer "Ib d ^ n drawings

Figo 1 is a perspective ksicht ^ c-ines R h stackable container of thermoplasti schem plastics from the eiw part is broken away and a Ausführungsbeispiöl for estfindungagemäße atapelfaltenanordnung comprises _y

Flg. 2 eiiaa EraufoieM on the »in Fig * i shown

3 one side not stacked up Containers, one of which is

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sehnittsm is xmä the beii © that hold in 1 inclined® Stspslfaltenaaordaiang?>.

Fig. 4 to 8

Details in side view that each shows two & i stacked containers, one of which is each cut and which show further exemplary embodiments for StapeX fold assemblies shown in FIG the containers in the area of the transition between the bottom and the side wall are provided "

Figures 6A and 8A

Details in a view of the bottom of one of the containers shown for example in Fig. 6 or 8 _f

Fig »9 and 10

Details in side view, each showing two stacked containers with one of the containers each cut and wherein stacking fold arrangements are shown in the bottom of the

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Containers are provided,

11 shows a detail in plan view of the

Bottom of one of the containers shown in Fig. 10,

™ Fig. 12 a detail in view »in the two

stacked containers are sloped »one of which is cut _e with a stacking fold arrangement molded into the side wall of the container at the bottom is shown,

13 is a detail in regards _t in the

shown stacked containers are _s one of which is cut with a substantially in the middle portion of the side wall of the respective container molded stack folding arrangement is shown, and

Pig.H is a detail in view showing two stacked containers, one of which is cut _e one into the side wall of the respective container

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molded-in stacking order is posed «the one with its upper edge or rolled up area of the container cooperates for the purpose of Stapeine.

They to be described cup od @ r Behäl = ter are seamlessly executed and thin-walled in the following, wherein the wall thickness in the Größanordnung of 0 _f OE5 to 0.85 mm liegg. Such cups or containers are made from a thermoplastic plastic, with polystyrene being a preferred example. is «Bi® Harstellujig takes place by Wäraevarformungj, whereby heated Folio d®-3 thermoplastic material is drawn into the desired ™ shape through molded parts, molded parts-in connection with a pressure or suction pressure or Xe = figlieh through a pressure release. It is to be understood that any of the above-mentioned thermoforming processes can be used to manufacture the Bacher in the various embodiments to be described below.

In Figs. 1 to 3 is a one-piece, seamless, thin-walled Cup or container 10 shown, the cup or container 10 has a truncated cone shape and includes a bottom 12 " which is in one piece at its edge with a peripheral through

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The existing side wall H is connected, diverges upwardly and outwardly from the Boäan 12 and ends in a flange portion 16; which forms the upper edge of the cup at the opening. The curling portion 16 is preferably rolled ₉ that it from the upper edge of the container to-m back crimped to the side wall 14 in order to form a rim of larger lateral width in comparison to the thickness of the side wall and thus the required transverse rigidity at the mouth of the cup to provide and at the same time to ensure a smooth drinking surface * It goes without saying, however, that every thickened edge © beaso can be used well, which brings the advantages mentioned · The bottom 12 is preferably drawn in, so axially concave upwards so that the bottom is prevented from sagging when the cup is filled with a liquid. As will be described in detail below, the retracted design of the bottom can be omitted in certain exemplary embodiments of the invention because the stacking arrangement ensures sufficient rigidity.

According to the invention, the cup 10 is provided with a stacking fold arrangement which is molded in one piece into the cup body and which cooperates with a peripherally extending stacking surface, as will be described below

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will be described? in order to stack successively stacked or nested containers a sufficient distance from one another so that wedging between the cups is prevented, which causes the most varied of known disadvantages? so that the cup is suitable for general use because it does not become wedged in the stack. The stacking fold · = ™ arrangement 18 must, in connection with the peripherally extending stacking surface, the containers in the axial direction; keep at a distance _P that is greater than the axial height of the flange area 16 ₉ so that no disturbance occurs at this point

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the stacking fold arrangement comprises a number of laterally axially extending and at the peripheral distance mutually arranged stacking folds 20, which are in elements double wall thickness' are formed. The respective stacking fold has a thickness that is at least twice as high the substantially uniform wall thickness of the cup 10, the wall thickness having a tolerance of a few hundredth! Has millimeters. The stacking folds 20

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in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 to 3 are essentially triangular and comprise two adjacent, essentially parallo wall sections 22, 'which are connected to one another at their radially innermost ends by a connecting wall section 24 diverging upwards and outwards, which in turn is connected by ^ the bottom wall diverges at a different angle than the side wall H.

The respective stacking fold 20 crosses at least part of the base 12 and the side wall H of the cup and thus extends on both sides of the transition area between these two cup sections. By this construction, the stacking folds 20 prevent a complete nesting of successive stacked containers, such as that in Pig. 3 is shown. The ψ stacking folds of the bottom cup are designed in this way; that they come into contact with the lower edge of the overlying cup, so that a stacking support is created between each pair of successive stacked cups. In this regard, the lower edge of the upper cup serves as the peripherally extending stacking surface that cooperates with the stacking folds of the underlying cup to interfere with the nesting movement between successive stacked cups.

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Free to limit when the parts are in place g @ long

According to the bar position, the stacking folds have their opening 21 in the upper area, from which a tool or pen is sucked after the production of the stacking folds 20. In the cases where laterally acting shapes are used, the largest distance between the essentially parallel adjacent wall sections 22 for the respective stacking folds preferably has a dimension which is smaller than the smallest distance or the dimension of the respective connecting wall 24 »Which connects the wall sections 22 lying next to one another. In this way a snapping or slight interlocking between the folds 20 of successive stacked containers is prevented. It is understood, of course, 'that it iöt possible to bring _c either the b-aidais "just superposed Wandabschnittö 22 of the respective Stapelfalt® in contact with one another * or the gap o ~ the gap in the respective stacking fold in the region of the bottom edge to close the container, so that the bottom edge, which forms the peripherally extending stacking surface, is not interrupted peripherally.

The connecting wall 24 of the respective stacking fold diverges

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yaws upward and outward so that all of the connecting walls 24 altananordlnung a Stapelf dahingehsnä act _r consecutive gestapalte cup to center. With the contact of the lower edge or the peripherally extending stacking surface of an upper cup on the stacking folds 20 of an underlying cup, the connecting walls 24 therefore act as centering means for the successive containers due to their angular arrangement.

The stacking folds 20 form due to the adjacent or adjacent wall sections 22 elements with at least twice the container wall _{thickness v} that serve as rigid stacking supports and provide a positive limitation of the nestability of stacked cups due to the elimination of a significant expansion or contraction of the brook body in the area of the stacking folds 20 » Since the stacking folds 20 in the Pig. 1 to 3 also cross at least one part of the bottom 12 and the side wall of the respective container, a greater overlap in the stack is provided. Furthermore, an air space between the bases 12 of successive stacked cups is provided by the stacking support of one cup on the other as shown in FIG. 3 and the spaces between the adjacent stacking folds

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= 15

20 form air channels for admitting air into them Space. Bas prevents “sticking together” in fixed suction Container due to a pressure difference between successive cups}, so that the cups better off Stacks can fall. The small side wall section between successive cups, which is pulled out by the stacking system against one another, is through the Zen- ^ tri. effect of successive Eech? r ensured. because it creates air between the entire bodies of nested cups.

Due to their construction, the stacking folds 20 ensure a lateral stiffening of the side wall in the area of their position as well as a dell of the bottom of the respective bay. £ 8 is possible _r the vertical rigidity of the stack folds 20 to use to "reinforce the soil and thus to prevent the soil a i sag" what has already been received ·

In the various other embodiments of the invention which will now be described, will the same reference numerals are used to identify corresponding parts in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, followed by different letters to distinguish them are added in alphabetical order.

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FIG. 4 shows two containers 10a inserted one inside the other, which correspond to the containers 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, apart from the stacking arrangement 18a. In this * Embodiment, the stacking folds 20a have a modified shape in the sense "that the connecting wall 24a divided into two sections between the adjacent wall sections 22a of the respective stacking fold, namely an upper portion 26 which is substantially in the type of connecting wall 24 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 to the obon and to the outside diverges, and a lower portion 28 which is disposed substantially vertically and substantially parallel to the axis of the container.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the stacking arrangements 18b of the respective container 10b are modified so that the connecting walls 24b of the respective stacking folds 20b form a slightly curved surface. In FIG. 6, the connecting wall 24c between two adjacent wall sections 22c of the respective stacking _{fold is similar to the embodiment 9} shown in FIG. 4 in that it is divided into an upper and a lower section 26c and 28c. However, the upper and lower sections 26c and 28c of the respective connecting wall have a slight curvature.

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Stack assemblies in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 function essentially in FIG same way v / ia that in the embodiment according to FIG 1 to 3 "including the centering effect between successive stacked containers. This execution" examples can be seen as an indication of the in which Shape the stacking folds 20 can be modified to provide a centering effect between successive Mugs in addition to the other benefits. In Fig. 6a there is an opening 21c in the bottom for each of the Stack folds 20c are shown, and this opening corresponds to the openings 21 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. This type of construction is characteristic of containers of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS.

In Fig. 7 is a modified version of the Stapslfal " ten arrangement I8d provided in the cups 1Od. In particular, the stacking pleat assembly 18d in the FIG 7 shows an inwardly directed element which extends from the transition of the bottom 12d in the side wall 12d of the respective cup 1Od extends away ο The stacking fold element 2Od has a similar Way at least twice the wall thickness in comparison to the wall thickness of the container body 1Od as in the other

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Embodiments, however, is arranged in a ring with the opposite conicity compared to the conicity of the side wall Hd of the respective container »Dia sas stacking fold element 20d ₉ which can be continuous peripherally or interrupted at certain points» as indicated in Fig. 7, acts in a slightly different way than the above-described exemplary embodiments of the stacking arrangement · In particular, the stacking fold element 20d of a lower container bends when it rests on the bottom 12d of an upper container around a point in the area of the transition between the bottom 12d and the side wall Hd of the lower container downwards, so that to impart axial elasticity to a stack of such containers. In this way it acts as a shock absorber when an axial load is applied to a stack of cups, for example by accidentally dropping the stack.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the containers 10e are provided with a further modification of the stacking fold arrangement 20e. Extends in this regard The connecting wall 24e between adjacent wall sections 22e of the respective stack fold initially in a substantially vertical direction from Bottom 12e of the respective container and then goes to one at a distance from the bottom 12e of the container

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In a direction across * which runs at right angles to the axis of the container in the weeeutüchen. This is to provide for a directed substantially horizontally supporting shoulder 30 to limit with the lower edge or circumferentially extending stacking surface of an upper container _r cooperating to form fit the Ineinandersteckbarkeit ge "sfapelter container. Between successive cups no centering is present _r as in the play in Fig. 1 to 6 Ausiühriuigsbei the case is _r which is indeed to an advantageous feature of _r but not to the invention is that for the Furl & ion is required "According to the illustration in Fig. 8A are openings 21e in the bottom of the container 10a at the folds 20a available _r and this for the same reasons that have already been explained are C

The two container designs 10f and 10g shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 or 11 differed from the previously illustrated exemplary embodiments in the sense that the stacking folds lie completely within the boundaries of the bottom of the respective container. In particular, the substantially rectangular StapeIfal = , th 20f in the containers 10f as shown in FIG Fig. 9 entirely within the confines of the floor and extending axially upwardly therefrom. By doing

- 20 =

10988A / 0030

In Figo 10 and 11 shown Ausführungsbiii have game the stacking folds 20g have a semicircular shape and are completely within the boundary of the bottom 12g of the respective container 10g. In the two exemplary embodiments in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 or 11 the intermediate ^ space between each pair of adjacent wall sections of the respective stacking fold in the area of the At the bottom of the respective container a dimension * smaller than the connecting walls 24f and 24g of the stacking folds 2Of or 2Of, so that the stacked cups cannot be pushed into one another at these points.

It is also possible to form the stack _P folds solely in the side wall of the respective BehältQrs how the 1st represented by the stack in the container folds 20h 10h in the W in Fig. Embodiment shown 12th Alongside the stacking folds 20h cooperate in the same way with the bottom edge or the peripherally extending stacking surface of an upper container in order to limit the hatred of the nestability of stacked containers.

While the previously described cups as the peripherally extending stacking surface the bottom edge of the container have «it is also possible to have such an area in the

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To provide a tsnwand or to use the oto «sr * <n Rwna äw cup as a support surface» as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. In particular are in l'ig. 13 dia cup 1Oi _r are each provided in the Seitanwand with a number of outwardly directed stack "fold 2Oi are formed for bearing on a check circumferentially extending stacking surface 32nd The staple area 32 bafindöt siüh bar above the staple folds 2Oi in the respective container. The stacking surface 32 is essentially horizontal = aligned and radially inwardly opposite the 3ta pelfalten 20i in such a way that the stacking folds 20i of an upper container can rest on the peripherally extending stacking surface 32 of the container below. In Fig. 14, the outwardly stack folding 2Oj in jev / piece cups are radially from the side wall 14j of the respective container nacth directed 1Oj outside and close to the hand 16j arranged _s ä <av ä & a top end of the respective cup 1Oj forms "stack up folding 2Oj are each directed radially outward by an amount from the side wall Hj of a respective cup; _e let it ensures that the lower surface of the respective stack rests fold 2Oj on the upper edge of 16j of the respective Randbe rich ·; " Bechers formed wl.röu

The staple folds in Pig. 12 to 14 signed off

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Management examples are similar in shape to those shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6, except that there is no centering effect in the various illustrated examples, even if they run could be provided if so desired. The stacking folds in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 thus have all the advantages that are inherent in the stacking fold arrangement according to the invention and those of this stacking fold arrangement according to the invention derive »in particular the stated advantages and advantages»

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Claims (1)

Patent to sayings 1i One-piece, stackable, seamless container made of thin-walled plastic with essentially uniform wall thickness, consisting of a base and Λ a side wall connected to it in one piece at the edge, which diverges upwards and outwards and ends in an upper edge, the container with a peripherally extending stacking surface is provided, characterized by a number of substantially axially extending and circumferentially spaced stacking folds (20) of double wall thickness, which are provided in the container (10) generally in the region of the peripherally extending stacking surface, each against the container (10) are radially offset in one "direction in such a way that they allow interaction with the peripherally extending stacking surfaces of the same" wide inserted container (10), and each comprise two essentially parallel, axially directed wall sections (22) lying next to one another, which are spaced apart from one another. 'who are distant by one hat, the smaller than that. maximum strength of the thin-walled plastic container 10988A / 0030 -24- (10) to provide sufficient resistance against bending out of the container (to) in the area of the respective fold (20) for the permanent formation of stacking folds (20) for the peripherally extending stacking surface of the second container (10) for positive locking Limiting the nestability between the containers (10) and preventing them from becoming wedged. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least three stacking folds (20) are arranged in the circumferential direction essentially at the same distance from one another around the axis of the container (10). 3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e η η ~ k shows that the peripherally extending stacking surface lies on one of the edges of the container 4 · A container according to claim 3 »characterized in that the stack folds (2Oi, 2Oj) projecting radially from the side wall (141, Hj) of the container (1Oi ₉ 1Oj) and are arranged in the region of the upper strip (16i, 16j) of the container , which forms the peripherally extending stacking surface. - 25 - 109884 / 003Q BATH OP ^ 5. Container according to claim 3t, characterized in that the stacking folds (20) extend radially the cup side wall (H) protrude near the inside and are located in the area of the bottom edge of the container, which is the peripherally extending stacking surface forms. 6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking folds (2Oi, 2Oj) in the side wall (Ui, Hj) of the container are provided 7. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking folds (20f) in the Bottom (12f) of the container (10f) are provided « 8. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking folds (20) at least traverse part of both the bottom (12) and the side wall (H) of the container (10). 9 · Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the respective stacking folds (20) at least partially near the bottom and near the inside tapering plan section (24), each of which 109884/0030 - 26 - while a pair of wall pieces lying next to each other (22) of the respective stacking fold (20) connects to one another 10. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent wall sections of the respective stacking fold in the area of Container wall are connected to each other, from which the stack folds protrude. · Container according to claim 1, characterized by an inwardly directed, ring-shaped stacking fold (20d) of double wall thickness «, which from the transition of the bottom (12d) into the side wall (Ud) of the container (1Od) from within the container (1Od) extends away, with the stacking fold (2Od) around a point in the area of the transition of the bottom (12d) in the side wall (Ud) of the container (1Od) when resting on the bottom (12d) of an identically designed drttberlying container (1Od) to provide a elastic resistance to prevent Yexv wedging between nested containers (1Od) and so that the axial springs of a stack of containers stuck into one another can be bent downwards. 109884/0030 2? Blank page