DE29609108U1 - Transport container in the form of a cuboid - Google Patents

Description

PATENT ATTORNEYS »"j ·· J**; \\

DiPL-iNG. CONRAD KÖCHLING .:i! J. * \. ^: ... ^: -" -!! ^: - ^: » ^: ■

DlPL-ING. CONRAD-JOACHIM KÖCHLING ^Note * ^: Dipl.-Kfm. Herbert Schulte

Im Kreuzseifen 4 PO Box 2069, D-58020 Hagen
FleyerStraße 135, D-58097 Hagen D-57489 Drolshaeen

Call(02331)81164 + 85033 ^/ tu 7 ^alm S ^c

Fax (02331) 84840

Telegrams: Patent Cook Hagen

Accounts: Commerzbank AG, Hagen 3 515095 (bank code 45040042)
Sparkasse Hagen 100012043 (bank code 45050001)
Postgiro: Dortmund 5989-460 {bank code 44010046)

VNR: 11....58....5.1

Serial No. 12023/96

20 May 1996

from the

CJK/Li.

Transport container in the shape of a cuboid

The invention relates to a transport container in the form of a cuboid with a frame for forming the side

walls.

A large number of transport containers are known in the state of the art that are used to transport any kind of goods. Such transport containers are also used in a size that corresponds to the usual dimensions of Euro pallets or industrial pallets. This means that such transport containers can be used on conventional loading systems and in conventional storage. A problem with such transport containers is that the transport containers are relatively bulky, so that the empty transport of such transport containers in particular is very costly, as is the provision of corresponding empty transport containers.

Based on this state of the art, the

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The invention is based on the object of creating a transport container of the generic type which, on the one hand, is suitable for accommodating a relatively large volume of transport goods and, on the other hand, takes up little space when empty.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes that the side walls in the corners can each be pivoted about an axis that is orthogonal to the base or to the support surface of the container, that two side walls that are parallel to one another consist of two frame parts that are connected in the middle by a hinge joint with a hinge axis that is orthogonal to the base of the container, that the frame parts can be pivoted about the axis and the hinge axis into a position parallel to the other two side walls in the space between them, and that the length of the package of side walls and frame parts that are parallel to one another in the pivoted-in position is slightly shorter than the clear length of the interior of the container in the position pivoted open to form a rectangle.

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Preferably, the axes in the corners of the container are formed by bearing tabs, on which the vertical edges of the foldable frame parts are held and which can be pivoted around the vertical edges of the non-foldable side walls, whereby the bearing tabs are aligned with the side walls in the opened position of the container and protrude beyond them in the longitudinal direction, and protrude transversely from the side walls in the folded position of the container and are directed towards the opposite side wall.

The design according to the invention makes it possible to align the transport container with the side wall parts swung out, so that a cuboid-shaped transport container is formed which is suitable for accommodating a considerable volume of goods.

When empty, it is possible to fold the transport container into a flat package, whereby the package can be placed into an unfolded transport container.

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In the container, several folded packages, for example five such packages, can be placed upright, with the packages being aligned with their long side walls parallel to each other and parallel to the long side walls of the unfolded transport container. In this way, it is easy to transport and store the containers when empty.

Preferably, the container is designed without a bottom and can be placed on a pallet as a bottom part, with locking means being arranged on the lower edges of the side walls of the container, which engage over the edges of the pallet or the like.

The containers are basically just stacking frames that can be placed on standard Euro pallets or industrial pallets, with the pallets then forming the base of the containers. When empty, the individual pallets can remain at the delivery location, provided that there is still goods on the pallets or the pallets can be

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stacked and stored or transported when empty. The locking means can be formed, for example, by retaining tabs or the like formed on the lower edge of the container side walls, which grip the edge of the pallet placed underneath and thus prevent a relative displacement of the frame placed on the pallet.

In order to lock the pivoted-open position, it is also provided that locking elements and/or stacking elements are arranged on the upper edge of the container, by means of which the container can be locked in the pivoted-open position and by means of which a stacking aid is formed for a lid or base placed on the mouth of the container or a frame of another container.

Preferably, it is provided that, as a locking element, plates are mounted on the upper edge of the non-foldable side walls near the corner areas of the container so that they can pivot around the edge and be displaced along the edge, which in the locking

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position with retaining hooks or similar holding means in the corner area over the upper edge of the foldable side walls (when the container is swung open) or can be swung up from the locking position, moved into a rest position and swung down into a position parallel to the side wall holding them.

The locking elements are held captive on the upper edge of the longer side walls and can be pivoted and at least partially moved. If the container is transferred from the folded position to the pivoted-open position, the locking elements can then be pivoted up to secure the pivoted-open position, then moved lengthwise so that they grip over the edge of the shorter side wall parts and thus secure the pivoted-open position. To unlock, the process is analogous, whereby the locking elements are first pivoted up to release the lock from the shorter side wall edges, then the locking elements are pushed along the upper edge of the longer side walls from the

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corner areas until they reach a position in which they can be swivelled downwards unhindered by the shorter side wall edges so that they are aligned parallel to the longer side wall parts.

In addition, it is preferably provided that the side walls are made of round tubes and assembled into frame-like parts, with plates, grids, perforated sheets or flexible sheets being held as filling between the tubes of a frame.

The side wall parts basically consist of load-bearing frame structures, the surface of which is filled with wire mesh, perforated sheet metal, a metal panel, a plastic plate or the like, depending on the type of use. It is also possible to cover these frame elements with coated or uncoated fabric.

The mouth of the container can be covered by a cover plate or a cover sheet made of plastic and/or textile material to facilitate access to the container.

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to prevent internal.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in more detail below.

It shows:

Figure 1 shows an opened container seen from above; Figure 2 shows the same from one side; Figure 3 shows the same from another side;

Figure 4 shows a detail of a container in the pivoted position;

Figure 5 shows a container in the pivoted-in position in front view;

Figure 6 shows a swiveled-open container with several swiveled-in containers inserted into it.

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In the normal position of use, the transport container is cuboid-shaped according to Figures 1 to 3 and consists of a frame to form the side walls 1, 2. The side walls 1 are longer than the side walls 2.

The side walls 1, 2 can be pivoted in the corner areas about an axis 3 that is orthogonal to the bottom of the container or to the support surface of the container. The two narrower side walls 2 are each made of two frame parts 4 that are connected in the middle by a hinge joint 5 with a hinge axis that is orthogonal to the bottom of the container or to its support surface. The frame parts 4 can be pivoted about the axis 3 and about the hinge axis (at 5) into a position parallel to the two other side walls 1 in the space between these side walls 1, as is shown in Figures 4 and 5. The length of the package in the pivoted position according to Figures 4 and 5 of side walls 4, 1 that are parallel to one another is slightly shorter than the clear length of the interior of the container in the rectangle.

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pivoted-open position, as is illustrated in Figure 6. This allows the folded elements to be inserted from above into a pivoted-open container as shown in Figure 6, with the side walls of the inserted elements running parallel to the longer side walls of the pivoted-open container. In this way, it is possible, for example, to insert four such elements into a pivoted-open container.

The axes 3 in the corners of the container are formed by elongated or oval bearing tabs 6, on which the vertical edges 7 of the foldable frame parts 4 are held in one end area and which can be pivoted around the vertical edges 8 of the non-foldable side walls 1. In the opened position of the container according to Figures 1 to 3, the bearing tabs 6 are aligned with the side walls 1 and protrude beyond them in the longitudinal direction, while in the folded position of the container according to Figures 4 and 5, they protrude transversely from the side walls 1 and to the respective

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are directed towards the opposite side wall 1. In this way, a reduction in the length of the entire container in the pivoted-in position is produced, which means that this folded container can be adjusted into the pivoted-open container, as is illustrated in Figure 6.

The containers are preferably designed without a bottom. They can be placed on a pallet or the like as a base part, whereby they have locking means 9, 10 on the lower edges of the side walls, which grip over the edges of the pallet or the like.

Locking elements 11 are arranged on the upper edge of the container and also serve as stacking elements. The container can be locked in the opened position using these locking elements 11, and the locking elements 11 also form a stacking aid for a lid or base of another container placed on the mouth of the container.

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The locking elements 11 are arranged on the upper edge 12 of the non-foldable side wall 1 near the corner areas of the container and consist of plates which are held so that they can pivot around the edge 12 and can be moved at least to a limited extent along the edge. In the locking position according to Figures 1 to 3, the locking elements 11 grip the upper edge 14 of the foldable side wall 2 in the corner area using retaining hooks 13 or similar retaining means, or they can be pivoted upwards from the locking position in the position according to Figure 2 and moved away from the corner area along the edge 12, so that they can then be pivoted down into a position parallel to the side wall 1 holding them, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 5.

The side walls 1, 2 are each assembled from round tubes to form frame-like parts, with a filling of any type being held between the frame-forming tubes.

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The invention is not limited to the embodiment, but is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure.

All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are considered essential to the invention.

Claims (6)

Schulte 12023/96 - 14-Protection claims: 1. Transport container in the form of a cuboid with a frame for forming the side walls, characterized in that the side walls (1, 2) can be pivoted in the corners about an axis (3) directed orthogonally to the floor or to the support surface of the container, two side walls (2) consist of two frame parts (2) each, which are connected centrally by a hinge joint (5) with a hinge axis directed orthogonally to the bottom of the container, so that the frame parts (2) rotate around the axis (3) and the hinge axis (at 5) can be pivoted into a position parallel to the other two side walls (1) in the space between them and that the length of the package of side walls and frame parts (2) aligned parallel to one another in the pivoted-in position is slightly shorter than the clear length of the interior of the container in the position pivoted open to form a rectangle. Schulte12023/96 - 15 - 2. Transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the axes (3) in the corners of the container are formed by bearing tabs (6) on which the vertical edges (7) of the foldable frame parts (2) are held and which can be pivoted about the vertical edges (8) of the non-foldable side walls (1), the bearing tabs (6) being aligned with the side walls (1) in the opened position of the container and projecting over them in the longitudinal direction, and protruding transversely from the side walls (1) in the folded-in position of the container and being directed towards the opposite side wall (1). 3. Transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container is designed without a bottom and can be placed on a pallet as a bottom part, wherein locking means (9, 10) are arranged on the lower edges of the side walls (1, 2) of the container, which engage over the edges of the pallet or the like. Schulte12023/96 - 16 - 4. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that locking elements (11) and/or stacking elements are arranged on the upper edge of the container, by means of which the container can be locked in the pivoted-open position and by means of which a stacking aid is formed for a lid or base placed on the mouth of the container or a frame of another container. 5. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that as a locking element (11) on the upper edge (12) of the non-foldable side walls (1) near the corner areas of the container, plates are held so as to be pivotable about the edge and displaceable along the edge (12), which in the locking position with retaining hooks (13) or similar retaining means in the corner area grip over the upper edge (14) of the foldable side walls (2) (when the container is pivoted open) or can be pivoted up from the locking position, in Schulte12023/96 - 17 - can be moved into a rest position and pivoted down into a position parallel to the side wall (1) holding them. 6. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the side walls (1,2) are made of round tubes and assembled into frame-like parts, with plates, grids, perforated sheets or flexible sheets being held as filling between the tubes of a frame.