DE9104804U1 - Product carrier - Google Patents

Description

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Frankfurt am Main
16.04 .1991
H 34 PG 1

Horst GmbH & Co. KG
Offenbacher Landstrasse 8

6450 Hanau 7

Product carrier

The invention relates to a goods carrier made of folding material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like with a sock-shaped base part in the upright position of use, on which a container part, a chute or the like is arranged, the base part consisting of a base element, foldable side walls and an upper connecting part on which the container part, the chute or the like rests.

Such product carriers are known for transporting and presenting a wide variety of goods. In particular, they are used as floor displays. For example, the applicant's German utility model G 83 16 724.2 describes a foldable floor display for displaying goods, which is intended to be suitable for the base part to be raised practically automatically, which is to be achieved without the use of additional aids. It is assumed here that floor displays of the type described are generally shipped in an outer box with the container part completely filled with goods, with the base part being folded up in such a way that it can be stored in the same outer box to save space.

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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In US-PS 3 300 166, DE-PS 29 02 573 and EP-OS 0 054 884, embodiments are described in which the foot part is already connected to the container part and the foot part can be easily erected when the floor stand is removed from the outer carton or wrapping, in particular it erects or unfolds itself if possible.

While the subject matter of the utility model G 83 16 724.2 expressly dispenses with additional erection aids such as e.g. elastic bands arranged inside the foot part, in the subject matter of DE-OS 29 01 573 a rubber band can be used to stabilize the foot part, which is intended to improve the stability of the floor stand and its unfolding.

In the subject matter of DE-OS 30 33 973, the side walls are connected to one another by an elastic band that pulls them together in the area of their central fold lines, whereby the side walls, in their folded position towards the inside of the foot, rest against the front edges of additional stop panels. These stop panels are arranged between the front wall and the rear wall of the foot section.

While it was initially believed that the automatic erection and holding of collapsible product carriers or sales displays could only be achieved by means of elastic bands or similar, it was later believed that the additional manufacturing effort involved could be replaced by so-called instant displays, as are the subject of utility model G 83 16 724.2. However, these have the disadvantage that the cutting and folding are quite complex and thus cause increased material and manufacturing costs.

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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The object of the present invention is therefore to design a goods carrier of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that the sock-shaped foot part connected to the container part containing the goods lies flatly folded under the container part during transport and can be brought into its position of use easily and quickly with the least possible effort.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the base element of the foot part is connected to two opposite side walls, at the end edges of which inwardly directed support walls are movably arranged, that in the area of the support walls opposite the end edges of the side walls openings are formed for receiving elastic tension elements, that the elastic tension elements connect lateral support walls of the opposite support walls, that in the middle of the side walls and the support walls a continuous transverse fold line is formed, that the side walls are connected to the upper connecting part, that the container part is attached to the upper connecting part and that the upper connecting part with the container part rests on the upper edges of the side walls.

Such a product carrier can be easily transported by simply grasping under the base element. Inadvertent opening of the product carrier is therefore not possible because the container part, the chute or similar with the goods to be sold rests on the base element, with the walls of the foot part folded flat between the base element and the container part. The support walls rest on the respective side walls and, like the side walls, are folded inwards around the continuous cross fold line. If the container part is lifted to erect the goods container, the

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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at the same time the side walls connected to the container part via the upper connecting part and to the base element, which is supported by the elastic tension elements that are stretched between the support walls of the opposing side walls. The elastic tension elements pull the side support walls away from the side walls into the interior of the foot part.

In order to collapse the goods carrier, the inward-facing support walls must be bent against the force of the elastic tension elements towards the side walls and then the side walls with the adjacent support walls must be folded inwards along the transverse fold lines until the upper and/or lower side wall sections come to lie on top of each other again, whereby the goods carrier also rests on the upper side wall sections and the goods carrier has thus returned to its initial transport position.

The product carrier is particularly stable if the base element is a continuous plate according to the invention. According to one embodiment of the invention, this can be formed in one piece with the side walls. ^*

According to another embodiment of the invention, the base element can consist of a separate plate that is connected to base tabs formed on the side walls by gluing, stapling or the like. In this case in particular, it has proven advantageous to design the base element as a pallet according to the invention. This makes transporting the loaded goods carrier considerably easier, since forklifts can be used for this purpose.

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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In order to ensure that the side walls of the foot section can be folded up safely and conveniently, it has proven to be useful not to make the side support walls larger than half the length of the side walls. This has the advantage that when the support walls are folded up onto the side walls, the support walls do not overlap, but lie flat against the side walls. If the support walls, according to the invention, are approximately half the length of the side walls, they protrude into the foot section as far as possible and thus offer the largest possible support surface for the side walls and, if applicable, the container part. This support function is fulfilled to a particularly high degree if the side support walls are aligned approximately diagonally on the base element when the foot section is in the upright position.

An advantageous embodiment of this inventive concept provides that the elastic tension elements are connected to lateral support walls arranged diagonally to one another. The support walls are thus automatically pulled in a direction diagonal to one another.

The elastic tension elements can be manufactured particularly easily and inexpensively in the form of rubber bands. However, according to the invention, springs or the like can also be used.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper connecting part to which the container part is connected can be formed as one piece with the side walls. According to the invention, the container part, the chute or the like can be connected to this one-piece upper connecting part by gluing, stapling, inserting or the like.

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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According to a further embodiment of this inventive concept, the upper connecting part can also consist of end tabs attached to the side walls, which are connected to the container part or the like by gluing, stapling, inserting or the like.

The goods carrier is given additional stability if the support walls according to the invention have such a height that the container part rests on the approximately diagonally aligned support walls.

In order to conveniently lift the container part of the goods carrier, according to an expedient embodiment of the invention, handle openings can be formed in the side walls of the container part or the like.

The product carrier according to the invention is given particular stability by the fact that, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a jacket covering is arranged around the sock-shaped foot part. The additional advantages of this jacket covering are discussed in detail below and in particular in the description of an exemplary embodiment.

In a further development of this inventive concept, it is intended that the height of the jacket covering corresponds approximately to the height of the side walls of the foot part. This means that the foot part of the product carrier is completely covered in the upright position for use, whereby the jacket covering can serve as an advertising space.

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Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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According to the invention, the jacket opening has handle openings, which are expediently aligned with the handle openings in the side walls of the container part or the like when the base part is folded up. This means that when lifting the container part filled with goods, the jacket covering does not need to be removed, but rather the two handle openings in the jacket covering and the container part can be reached through and the container part can be lifted. Once the goods carrier has been set up, the jacket covering only needs to be pushed down to the base element, which on the one hand covers the base and on the other hand exposes the goods to be sold.

According to the invention, the handle opening in the jacket casing can also be arranged in such a way that one can reach under the container part to erect the product carrier. In this case too, the jacket casing is lowered onto the base element after the product carrier has been erected.

Further features, advantages and possible applications of the invention emerge from the following description of an embodiment and the drawing. All described and/or illustrated features alone or in any combination form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them.

Show it:

Fig. 1 in perspective view an inventive

Goods carrier in upright position for use,

KEIL & SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Fig. 2 a goods carrier with a jacket covering and filled with goods in its folded transport position,

Fig. 3 the goods carrier shown in Fig. 2 during the lifting of the filled container part,

Fig. 4 the goods carrier shown in Figs. 2 and 3 at the end of the erection process and

Fig. 5 shows the goods carrier shown in Figs. 2 to 4 in its upright position of use, with the jacket cover pushed downwards from the position shown in Fig. 4 over the foot part of the jacket carrier.

The product carrier 1 shown in the drawing consists of a sock-shaped base part 2 and a container part 3, which can be designed as a chute or the like. Both the base part 2 and the container part 3 are made of a folding material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like.

The foot part 2 consists of a floor element 4 on which _x -two opposite side walls 5 and 6 are arranged, at whose end edges 7, 8 and 9 lateral support walls 10 and 11, 12 are movably arranged.

In the area of the support walls 10, 11, 12 opposite the end edges 7, 8, 9 of the side walls 5, 6, openings 13, 14 are formed for receiving elastic tension elements 15, 16. The tension elements 15, 16 made of rubber are between

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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are each stretched across two diagonally arranged lateral support walls 10, 12; 11 and ensure that the support walls are aligned approximately diagonally above the floor element when the goods carrier 1 is in the upright position.

In the middle of the side walls 5, 6 and the support walls 10, 11, 12 there is a continuous transverse fold line 17, 18, which is designed in such a way that the upper side wall sections 19, 20 and the lower side wall sections 21, 22 of the side walls 5 and 6 are folded inwards with the corresponding upper support wall sections 23, 24 and lower support wall sections 25 and 26 adjacent to them, whereby the upper side wall sections 19, 20 come to rest on the lower side wall sections 21 and 22 in the folded state of the goods carrier. In this folded state, the lower support wall sections 25, 26 rest on the base element 4, while an upper connecting part (not shown in detail) rests on the upper support wall sections 23, 24, to which the container part 3 is firmly connected. Handle openings 29, 30 are formed in the front sides 27, 28 of the container part 3.

In the embodiment shown, the floor element 4 is a continuous plate that is designed as a pallet with support beams 31, 32 that serve as sliding strips. In this case, the floor element 4, which is designed as a separate plate, is connected to floor tabs (not shown) formed on the side walls 5, 6 by gluing, stapling or the like. The floor element 4 can also be a continuous plate that is formed in one piece with the side walls 5 and 6.

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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The lateral support walls 10, 11, 12 extend from the base element 4 to the underside of the container part 3 and have a length that is approximately half the length of the side walls 5, 6 .

The upper connecting part (not shown) can be made in one piece and connected to the side walls, just like the base element. However, it can also consist of end tabs (not shown) attached to the side walls 5, 6, which are connected to the container part 3 by gluing, stapling, inserting or the like. In this case, part of the base 33 of the container part 3 forms the upper end of the sock-shaped foot part 2.

As can be seen from Fig. 2 to 5, a jacket covering 34 can be arranged around the sock-shaped foot part 2, the height of which corresponds approximately to the height of the side walls 5 and 6. In the folded transport position of the goods carrier 1, the jacket covering 34 rests on the base element 4.

So that the product carrier 1 can also be erected with the jacket covering 34 attached, the jacket covering 34 has handle openings 35 which, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 to 5, are aligned with the handle openings 29, 30 in the container part 3.

The product carrier according to the invention can be used as follows :

The container part 3 of the goods carrier 1, which is designed as a chute, for example, is folded up when the foot part 2

s i

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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filled with goods, whereby, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 5, several identical container parts 3 can also be arranged one above the other on a base part 2. The jacket covering 34 is put around the container part or parts 3, which rests on the base element 4 and at the same time covers the folded-up base part 2. The goods container 1 is transported in this form shown in Fig. 2.

In order to bring the goods carrier 1 into its upright position of use, the (lowermost) container part 3 must be lifted, as shown in Fig. 3, which is facilitated by the handle openings 35 in the casing 34 and the handle openings 29, 30 in the container part 3.

When the container part 3 is lifted, the side walls 5 and 6 are unfolded as shown in Fig. 3, up to the end position shown in Fig. 4. In this position, the elastic tension elements 15 and 16, designed as rubber bands, have pulled the side support walls 10, 11, 12 diagonally. If the container part 3 is now released, it sits securely on the side walls 5 and 6 and the support walls 10, 11, 12. Now, as shown in Fig. 5, the jacket cover 34 only needs to be pushed downwards, whereby the foot part 2 is completely covered and the goods to be sold are visible.

The product carrier, made from a recyclable folding material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or similar, can either be destroyed or folded up and sent back to the manufacturer after the goods have been sold. It can also be refilled on site, which can be done easily by inserting a replacement container already filled with goods into the container part 3.

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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The product carrier 1 according to the invention can be used with or without a jacket covering 34. The handle opening 35 in the jacket covering 34 does not necessarily have to be aligned with the handle openings 29, 30 in the container 3, but it is sufficient that the arrangement of the handle opening 35 in the jacket covering 34 is such that the container part 3 can be gripped underneath for lifting.

The invention is neither limited to a rectangular base area of the foot part nor to the special arrangement of two opposing side walls, but rather any basic geometric shape is possible with which the features according to the invention can be implemented. This is also the case, for example, with three side walls forming a hexagon.

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Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 13 -

List of reference symbols:

1 product carrier

2 Foot part

3 Container part

4 Floor element

5 Side wall

6 Side wall

7 End edge

8 End edge

9 End edge

1 0 retaining wall

1 1 retaining wall

1 2 retaining wall '

13 Opening

14 Opening

15 elastic tension element

16 elastic tension element

17 Cross fold line

18 Cross fold line

19 upper side edge section

20 upper side wall section

21 lower side wall section

22 lower side wall section

23 upper retaining wall section

24 upper retaining wall section

25 lower retaining wall section

26 lower retaining wall section

27 front sides

28 front sides

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 14 -

29 Handle opening 30 Handle opening 31 Support beam 32 Support beam 33 Floor of 3 34 Sheath covering 35 Handle opening

Claims (18)

Keil&Schaafhausen PATENT ATTORNEYS H 34 PG 1 Protection claims: 1. Goods carrier made of folding material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like with a sock-shaped foot part in the upright position of use, on which a container part, a chute or the like is arranged, the foot part consisting of a base element, foldable side walls and an upper connecting part on which the container part, the chute or the like rests, characterized in that the base element (4) of the foot part (2) is connected to two opposite side walls (5, 6), on the end edges (7, 8, 9) of which inwardly directed support walls (10, 11, 12) are movably arranged, that in the area of the support walls (10, 11, 12) opposite the end edges (7, 8, 9) of the side walls (5, 6) openings (13, 14) for receiving elastic tension elements (15, 16) are designed such that the elastic tension elements (15, 16) connect support walls (10, 11, 12) of the opposing side walls (5, 6), that a continuous transverse fold line (17, 18) is designed in the middle of the side walls (5, 6) and the support walls (10, 11, 12), that the side walls (5, 6) are connected to the upper connecting part, that the container part (3) is fastened to the upper connecting part and that the upper connecting part with the container part (3) rests on the upper edges of the side walls (5, 6). 2. Goods carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (4) is a continuous plate. 3. Goods carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the continuous plate (4) is formed integrally with the side walls (5, 6). Keil&Schaafhausen PATENT ATTORNEYS
- 2 - 4. Goods carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the base element (4) is a separate plate which is connected to base tabs formed on the side walls (5, 6) by gluing, stapling or the like. 5. Goods carrier according to claim 2 and/or 4, characterized in that the base element (4) is designed as a pallet. 6. Goods carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral support walls (10, 11, 12) are not larger than half the length of the side walls (5, 6). 7. Goods carrier according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the lateral support walls (10, 11, 12) are supported approximately diagonally on the floor element (4) in the erected state of the foot part (2). 8. Goods carrier according to one of claims 1, 6 or 7, characterized in that the elastic tension elements (15, 16) are connected to lateral support walls (10, 11, 12) arranged diagonally to one another. 9. Goods carrier according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that the elastic tension elements (15, 16) are rubber bands. 10. Goods carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper connecting part connected to the side walls (5, 6) is formed in one piece. Keil&Schaafhausen PATENT ATTORNEYS
- 3 - 11. Goods carrier according to claim 10, characterized in that the container part (3) is firmly connected to the upper connecting part by gluing, stapling or the like. 12. Goods carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper connecting part consists of end tabs attached to the side walls (5, 6) which are connected to the container part (3) by gluing, stapling, inserting or the like. 13. Goods carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container part (3) rests on the approximately diagonally aligned support walls (10, 11, 12). 14. Goods carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that handle openings (29, 30) are formed in the side walls (5, 6) of the container part (3). 15. Goods carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a jacket covering (34) is arranged around the sock-shaped foot part (2). 16. Goods carrier according to claim 15, characterized in that the height of the jacket covering (34) corresponds approximately to the height of the side walls (5, 6) of the foot part (2). 17. Goods carrier according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the jacket covering (34) has handle openings (35) which are aligned with the handle openings (29, 30) in the side walls (5, 6) of the container part (3) when the foot part (2) is folded together. 1 ^;: ■'■■ ■■·";«; JI Ü VU Keil&Schaafhausen PATENT ATTORNEYS - 4 - 18. Product carrier according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that handle openings (35) are arranged in the casing (34) in such a way that one can reach under the container part (3) to erect the product carrier (1).